HARTFORD — Robert Crook ordered 1,000 stickers for gun owners opposed to more gun control laws to sport Monday at the state Capitol.

"I am not sure 1,000 will be enough," said Crook, the executive director of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen.

A huge turnout is expected Monday when state lawmakers assigned to propose recommendations for reducing gun violence conduct an information-gathering hearing.

"It is going to be big," said Ron Pinciaro, executive director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence.

The day-long hearing is providing the first opportunity since the deadly school shooting in Newtown on Dec. 14 for the opposing sides in the gun control debate to showcase their arguments — and their numbers.

The panel holding the hearing is a subgroup of a larger working group that the legislature's Democratic and Republican leaders formed to help shape policy responses to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Advocates demanding and opposing more gun regulation are clearly looking to make an impressive showing at Monday's hearing, said Senate Minority Leader. John McKinney, R-Fairfield, co-chairman of the bipartisan working group.

"It is extremely important," Pinciaro said.

His group has issued an urgent appeal for people who support more gun controls to come out Monday or submit written testimony if they are unable to attend the hearing.

The Connecticut Citizens Defense League is doing the same. It is asking members to consider taking a vacation day from work or make a plan otherwise to be there.

Crook said he has also spread the word about the hearing to members of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Connecticut Education Association have both scheduled news conferences before the informational hearing's scheduled 10 a.m. start.

The NSSF represents the firearms manufacturing and related industries in Connecticut. The trade group is going to highlight the role these industries plan in the state's economy.

The CEA is going to release what it calls the first-ever poll of Connecticut teachers on gun laws and school safety. The union represents 43,000 teachers.

The legislature last had a big debate on gun regulation two years ago when the Judiciary Committee proposed legislation to limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.

The bill ran into stiff opposition from gun owners and the firearms industry, and the committee's Democratic leadership let the legislation die without coming to a vote.

THE 10-ROUND LIMIT is among the long list of gun control measures that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the legislature are eyeing now because the Newtown shooter used 30-round magazines to carry out his killing spree.

The Malloy administration did not take a position on the 2011 bill, but this time governor is not only championing the idea, but suggesting the limit possibly be lowered to seven rounds.

"I support the constitution of the United States, but there is no reading of the constitution of the United States that would lead me to believe we can't do things to make our citizens safer," Malloy said.

Crook estimated that 500 gun owners and sympathizers turned out two years ago when the 10-round restriction was first proposed. He said he expects double the turnout Monday — or possibly more.

"They are upset. They are feeling they are being blamed. Their rights are being restricted. Their sports are being affected. They'll be here. They will absolutely be here," Crook said.

Pinciaro hesitated to put a number on how many people Connecticut Against Gun Violence and allied advocates expect to turn out.

"Frankly, it is difficult to estimate," he said.

Pinciaro said advocates of additional gun regulation are more determined than ever after the massacre of 20 first-graders and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School last month.

Gun owners will have sympathizers among the subgroup of lawmakers who will be conducting Monday's hearing and making recommendations to the larger group, including Rep. Robert C. Sampson, R-Wolcott.

"When you sit down and really consider the circumstances surrounding what happened in Sandy Hook, you realize it has very little to do with guns," Sampson said.

Sampson said many of the details surrounding the Sandy Hook tragedy remain unknown. The state police are not expected to wrap up their investigation until June at the earliest.

"I think it's unwise to make rash policy changes when we don't have all the facts," Sampson said.

MALLOY CONTENDS THAT ENOUGH OF THE FACTS are known or easily discernible now.

"We know a lot. We know somebody went into a school with semi-automatic weapons with large magazines with the intent to kill people, just as they have gone similarly armed into malls, into movie theaters, into schools in the past," he said.

Some of the legislature's strongest advocates for more gun control laws are also serving on the subgroup on gun violence, including Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, and Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury.

Looney and Godfrey are sponsoring some of the most sweeping gun regulations this session. Looney is co-chairing the subgroup.

When all is said and done, Crook is not expecting much gun control legislation to get through the legislature this year.

"I would expect to see one or two bills at most in the end, and I am not even sure those will pass," he said.

However, the Democratic and Republican leaders are planning to approve additional gun regulations as part of an initial package of measures responding to the Sandy Hook tragedy in late February.

There is evidence of bipartisan support for some gun control measures. McKinney co-sponsored legislation to set a 10-round limit on ammunition magazines with Sen. Gary D. LeBeau, D-East Hartford, for example.

"We had a limitation on the size of magazines in the past and I can't imagine that we are not going to have a limitation on the size of magazines in the future," Malloy said.

He was referring to federal assault weapon ban that expired in 2004. The law had a 10-round limit on magazines among its many provisions.

Lawmakers have also proposed a number of bills to strengthen and update the state assault weapon ban that was enacted in 1993.

" the nazi party of connecticut has already decided. this is all for show. a great many citizens will be turned into criminals with the stroke of a pen. people must realize that a seven round limit will outlaw most handguns.

any candidate who runs on repealing this nonsense legislation will cruise to victory in the next election cycle. "

" This is paraphrased from the Hartford Courant ;Mr Willian C Marino stated in written testimony posted on http://www.cga.ct.gov/asaferconnecticut. , "If the state wants to control the sale of any semi-automatic weapon then there should be a 100% sales tax put on the sale of the firearm, ammo, and anything related to it. I would include hand guns, any military type of semi-automatic, and any firearm with a removable, (clip/drum) type of magazine that holds more than 5 rounds. Only active duty law enforcement personnel would be excluded from the tax."Mr. Marino of North Haven goes on to state "It appears to me the slightest hint of any sort of gun control sends the [National Rifle Association] into a wild tizzy, getting all the gun owners worked up about the 2nd amendment. Truth is, the NRA is nothing more than a multi-million dollar lobbying firm for the gun industry," Marino who described himself in a phone interview as a hunter, owner of pistols and rifles, and a Navy veteran.I submit to you that this guy in a fake,and a shill for the liberal anti-gun groups and a prime example of of why law abiding gun owners have to fight for their rights. "

" What is wrong with you people! What part of your brain doesn't work that you can't understand that something needs to be done. There is no reason why everyone who wants to buy a gun should have a background check or waiting period. You can still protect yourself without being a nutcase about it. With rights come responsibility. No one is actually taking time to discuss or listen, all you can think about is ""me, me, me". "

Why don't we arm the children? When buying their little back packs and school supplies they could pick up flak jackets, bulletproof vests and an assault rifle.

After all isn't it their own responsibility to protect themselves. Why should any American have to pay anything that benefits someone else?Isn't that what America is all about? These kids have been living off of us for long enough.

If they don't want to be murdered in school, then they should protect themselves.

Think about how many more assault weapons that would sell! The NRA would be thrilled and no American would be asked to lift a finger for those slacker kids. Win-win! "

" Hummm. According to our mayor's plan, surveillance cameras could have prevented this disaster. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun. Cameras do not make me feel safe Mayor!! "

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